He said: “Christine, my wife, and I are privileged to have known him. He was a man who must have given rise to the saying tall, dark and handsome.

“I was taken immediately by his willingness to tackle new tasks. I stood back in awe. In 2002 I was proud to give my daughter’s hand in marriage to Steve in Las Vegas.”

The Rev Staples referred to the tragic way in which Mr Christian died, and to his fellow Royal Mail worker Sean Watson, who was driving the car on the day of the accident and who was also in the congregation.

He said: “I do not believe God willed that tree to fall so precisely on Stephen’s and Sean’s car at that time.”

Hymns sung during the ceremony included Amazing Grace and All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Books were left out for people to write down their memories of Stephen and will remain in the church until tomorrow morning.